Tool unit

ABSTRACT

A tool unit includes at least one basic body and at least one information element. The at least one basic body includes at least one fastening region configured, at least partially, to couple to a tool receiver of at least one hand-held power tool. The at least one basic body also includes at least one working region configured, at least partially, to work at least one workpiece when in an operating state. The at least one information element includes, at least partially, a material relief in the basic body.

This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §119 to patent application no. DE 10 2012 214 915.5, filed on Aug. 22, 2012 in Germany, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND

Tool units have already been proposed.

SUMMARY

The disclosure is based on a tool unit, in particular an insert-tool unit, having at least one basic body, which comprises at least one fastening region provided, at least partially, for coupling to a tool receiver of at least one hand-held power tool, and at least one working region provided, at least partially, for working at least one workpiece when in an operating state, and having at least one information element.

It is proposed that the at least one information element comprise, at least partially, a material relief in the basic body. “Provided” is to be understood to mean, in particular, as specially configured and/or equipped. The tool unit is preferably realized as an abrasive pad, which is provided for coupling to a tool receiver, in particular a backing plate, of at least one hand-held power tool. An “abrasive pad” in this context is to be understood to mean, in particular, an insert tool realized, at least partially, so as to be flexibly formable and/or bendable, in particular flexible, in at least one direction. Moreover, it is also conceivable, however, for the tool unit to be realized as another element considered appropriate by persons skilled in the art, such as, for example, a backing plate. The basic body is preferably composed, at least partially, of a paper, card, foil, film, woven fabric, mesh, fiber and/or other material considered appropriate by persons skilled in the art.

An “information element” in this context is to be understood to mean, in particular, an element provided, at least partially, preferably at least almost entirely, to indicate to a user at least one aspect, in particular at least one parameter, of the tool unit, and/or to provide a user with relevant information, in particular for use of the tool unit. The information element is preferably provided to be visually identified, at least partially, by the operator. It is also conceivable, however, for the information element to be realized, at least partially, such that it can be identified haptically and/or acoustically. Alternatively or additionally, the at least one information element can be provided, at least partially, to be used for, in particular, at least partially automated identification. In a particularly preferred exemplary embodiment, the information element is composed, at least partially, of at least one numeral, at least one sequence of numerals, at least one letter, at least one sequence of letters, i.e. at least one word, at least one symbol, or of another configuration considered appropriate by persons skilled in the art. In a particularly preferred exemplary embodiment, the information element is provided, at least partially, to provide an operator with information relating to a grain size of the abrasive facing, a production batch, an article or serial number, an article or serial designation, in particular customer-related advertising information, seasonal or regional information, instructions relating to safety and/or use, or another parameter considered appropriate by persons skilled in the art.

A “material relief” in this context is to be understood to mean, in particular, a reduction of a material thickness of the basic body, in particular that can be achieved by abrasion and/or by removal of material, in particular by at least 5%, preferably by at least 10%, and particularly preferably by at least 15%. The material thickness of the basic body is, in particular, less than 10 mm, preferably less than 5 mm, and particularly preferably less than 3 mm. Preferably, the material relief can be made in the basic body by means of a laser cutting operation, in which a depth of cut is, in particular, less than the material thickness of the basic body. Alternatively or additionally, the material relief can be made in the basic body, in particular in the fastening region, in particular having a pile fabric, by means of a stamping operation, in particular with a reduced stamping force and/or with use of a heated stamping tool.

The configuration of the tool unit according to the disclosure makes it possible for an identification of the tool unit that is advantageously easily identifiable and robust to be achieved in a structurally simple manner. Further, preferably, it makes it possible to dispense with a printing operation for application of the information element, and consequently the tool unit can be produced in an advantageously time-saving and cost-saving manner.

In addition, it is proposed that the at least one information element comprise, at least partially, a material opening through the basic body. A “material opening” in this context is to be understood to mean, in particular, a reduction of the material thickness of the basic body, in particular by abrasion, by, in particular 100%, and/or a severance, in particular a complete severance, of the material thickness of the basic body. It is thereby possible to achieve a structurally simple configuration and advantageously clear visibility of the at least one information element, preferably from both sides of the tool unit, when fastened on the tool receiver of the hand-held power tool, without the necessity of detaching the tool unit from the tool receiver. Furthermore, advantageously, this reliably prevents the at least one information element from becoming clogged, soiled and/or rubbed off, and achieves preferably prolonged and clear identifiablity of the at least one information element. Consequently, it is advantageously possible to reduce the risk of use of an incorrect tool unit, for example an abrasive pad of incorrect grain size.

Furthermore, it is proposed that the at least one information element be made in the basic body, at least partially, by means of a laser cutting operation. It is thereby possible to achieve an advantageously precise and preferably inexpensive configuration of the tool unit and information element, in particular since, preferably, it is advantageously possible to economize on tool costs and/or setting-up work.

Further, it is proposed that the at least one information element be made in the basic body, at least partially, by means of a stamping operation. This enables the tool unit to be produced in an advantageously simple manner and, in particular, already existing installations can continue to be used to produce the tool unit. A preferably inexpensive configuration of the tool unit can be achieved as a result.

Additionally, it is proposed that the tool unit comprise at least one suction element, realized so as to be at least partially integral with the at least one information element. A “suction element” in this context is to be understood to mean, in particular, an element having at least one inner surface that, in at least one plane, encloses, at least partially, preferably completely, at least one free space. Preferably, the suction element is realized so as to be open, as viewed perpendicularly in relation to the at least one plane enclosed by the inner surface. Preferably, the at least one suction element is provided, at least partially, to carry away dust, in particular produced when the tool unit is in an operating state, in particular from a working region of the tool unit. “Integral with” is to be understood to mean, in particular, connected at least in a materially bonded manner, for example by a welding process, an adhesive process, an injection process, a stamping operation, a laser cutting operation and/or another process considered appropriate by persons skilled in the art, and/or, advantageously, formed in one piece such as, for example, by being produced from a casting and/or by being produced in a single or multi-component injection process and, advantageously, from a single blank. This makes it possible to achieve an advantageously simple, compact and preferably inexpensive configuration of the tool unit. Moreover, advantageously, additional weakening of the basic body and a further reduction of a working region, caused by making additional openings in the material, can be prevented.

Further, it is proposed that the at least one information element constitute at least one letter and/or at least one numeral. In a particularly preferred exemplary embodiment, the information element is constituted, at least partially, by at least one sequence of numerals, i.e. at least one number and/or at least one sequence of letters, i.e. at least one word. Particularly advantageously, the information element, alternatively or additionally, can comprise at least one symbol or another configuration considered appropriate by persons skilled in the art. As a result, information can be represented by the information element in an advantageously easily comprehensible and precise manner.

Furthermore, it is proposed that the tool unit comprise at least two material openings, the disposition of which constitutes the information element, at least partially. Preferably, the information element is constituted, at least partially, by adjacent, in particular directly adjacent, material openings. Preferably a plurality of material openings are provided, the disposition of which constitutes the information element, at least partially. This makes it possible to achieve a preferably simple configuration of the information element. Further, a uniform shape of the material openings can be used, such that, in particular, a multiplicity of variants of tools, in particular in the case of a stamping operation, and an elaborate method of producing the tool unit can preferably be avoided.

In addition, it is proposed that the at least one information element be constituted, at least partially, by a shape of the at least one material opening. An advantageously simple and clearly comprehensible configuration of the information element can be achieved as a result.

The tool unit according to the disclosure in this case is not intended to be limited to the application and embodiment described above. In particular, the tool unit according to the disclosure, for the purpose of implementing a mode of operation described herein, can have a number of individual elements, components and units that differs from a number stated herein.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Further advantages are given by the following description of the drawing. The drawing shows two exemplary embodiments of the disclosure. The drawing and the description contain numerous features in combination. Persons skilled in the art will also expediently consider the features individually and combine them to create appropriate further combinations.

In the drawing:

FIG. 1 shows a hand-held power tool having a tool unit according to the disclosure, in a perspective view,

FIG. 2 a shows the tool unit according to the disclosure, in a plan view, and

FIG. 2 b shows an alternatively configured tool unit, in a plan view.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Represented in FIG. 1 is a hand-held power tool 14, constituted by an orbital sander. The hand-held power tool 14 has a housing 24, which encloses a drive unit, constituted by an electric motor, not represented in greater detail. When in an operating state, the drive unit is supplied with electrical energy by means of an electric power cable 26, which is disposed at one end of the housing 24. A switching element 28, mounted displaceably in the housing 24, is provided for the purpose of activating the drive unit. The switching element 28 is constituted by a slide switch. The housing 24 constitutes a first handle region 30, which is disposed at the end facing toward the electric power cable 26. The first handle region 30 is constituted by a cylindrical region of the housing 24. Also provided is a further handle region 32, which is disposed at an end of the housing 24 that faces away from the electric power cable 26. The further handle region 32 is realized in the form of a dome. The first handle region 30 and the further handle region 32 are provided to be grasped by an operator's hand and to guide the hand-held power tool 14 when in an operating state. A tool receiver 12 is disposed at the end of the hand-held power tool 14 that faces away from the electric power cable 26. The tool receiver 12 adjoins the housing 24. The tool receiver 12 comprises a backing plate. The tool receiver 12 is provided to receive a tool unit. The tool unit is comprises an insert tool unit. The tool unit and the hand-held power tool 14 together constitute a system.

The tool unit is represented in FIG. 2, and constitutes an insert tool. The tool unit constitutes an abrasive disc, which is provided to be detachably connected to the tool receiver 12 of the hand-held power tool 14. It is also conceivable, however, for the tool unit to constitute an abrasive belt, an abrasive sheet, an abrasive strip, or another form of made item considered appropriate by persons skilled in the art. The tool unit comprises a basic body 10. The basic body 10 is made of a paper or card.

The basic body 10 of the tool unit comprises a working region 16, which is provided for working a workpiece when in an operating state. The working region 16 of the basic body 10 has an abrasive facing 34. The abrasive facing 34 comprises abrasive grains and a binder, which binds the abrasive grains and the paper or card to each other in a materially bonded manner. The abrasive facing 34 constitutes an abrasive surface. The basic body 10 has a round surface of main extent. The abrasive surface extends parallelwise in relation to the surface of main extent. The basic body 10 of the tool unit is realized in the form of a disc.

The basic body 10 comprises a fastening region, not represented in greater detail, which is provided for coupling to the tool receiver 12 of the hand-held power tool 14. The fastening region that is not represented is disposed on a side of the basic body 10 that is opposite the abrasive facing 34. The fastening region comprises a hook/loop element, which is provided to correspond to a hook/loop element of the tool receiver. The hook/loop element is composed of a pile fabric. The hook/loop element is fixedly connected to the basic body 10 of the tool unit and extends parallelwise in relation to the surface of main extent of the basic body 10.

The basic body 10 additionally has a plurality of suction elements 22. The suction elements 22 are provided to carry away dust, produced when the tool unit is in an operating state, from a working region of the tool unit. The suction elements 22 are made in the basic body 10 by means of a laser cutting operation. It is also conceivable, however, for the suction elements 22 to be made in the basic body 10 by means of a stamping operation, or in another manner considered appropriate by persons skilled in the art. The suction elements 22 extend through an entire material thickness of the basic body 10. The suction elements 22 have a round cross section. Also conceivable, however, are other cross-sectional forms of the suction elements 22, considered appropriate by persons skilled in the art. The suction elements 22 are made in the basic body 10 of the tool unit such that they are parallel to each other.

The tool unit additionally has at least one information element 18. It is also conceivable for the tool unit to have a plurality of information elements 18. The information element 18 comprises a material relief in the basic body 10. The information element 18 comprises a material opening 20 through the basic body 10. The material opening 20 extends through the entire thickness of the material of the basic body 10. The information element 18 constitutes at least one numeral. The information element 18 constitutes a total of three numerals. The information element 18 constitutes a sequence of numerals, i.e. a number. It is also conceivable, however, for the information element 18 to constitute at least one letter, a sequence of letters, i.e. a word, a symbol, or another configuration considered appropriate by persons skilled in the art. The information element 18 is provided to provide an operator of the tool unit with information relating to a grain size or another parameter of the tool unit. The information element 18 is constituted by a number, comprising three numerals, that denotes the grain size.

The tool unit comprises at least two material openings 20. The tool unit comprises a plurality of material openings 20, the disposition of which constitutes the information element 18, i.e. the number defining the grain size. In this exemplary embodiment, the information element 18 is constituted by the numeral sequence “180”.

The information element 18 is realized so as to be integral with a suction element 22 or a plurality of suction elements 22. When the tool unit is in a mounted state on the hand-held power tool 14, and the hand-held power tool 14 is in an operating state, the information element 18 can serve as a suction element 22.

The tool unit is produced by means of a method that comprises a step in which the information element 18 is made in the basic body 10 of the tool unit. The step of the method comprises a laser cutting operation, by means of which the information element 18 is made in the basic body 10. It is also conceivable, however, for the step of the method to comprise a stamping operation, or another operation, considered appropriate by persons skilled in the art, by means of which the information element 18 is made in the basic body 10. The step is further provided to make in the basic body 10 of the tool unit suction elements 22 that do not serve as an information element 18, and consequently the tool unit can be produced in a particularly simple, time-saving and inexpensive manner.

FIG. 2 b shows a further exemplary embodiment of the disclosure. The following description and the drawing are limited substantially to the differences between the exemplary embodiments and, in principle, reference may be made to the drawings and/or to the description of the other exemplary embodiment in respect of components denoted in like manner, in particular in respect of components having the same reference numerals, in particular to FIG. 2 a. To differentiate the exemplary embodiments, the reference numerals of the further exemplary embodiment are prefixed by the numeral 1.

FIG. 2 b shows an alternatively configured tool unit. The tool unit is realized as an insert tool unit. The tool unit constitutes an abrasive disc, which is provided to be detachably connected to a tool receiver 12 of a hand-held power tool 14. It is also conceivable, however, for the tool unit to constitute an abrasive belt, an abrasive sheet, an abrasive strip, or another form of made item considered appropriate by persons skilled in the art. The tool unit comprises a basic body 10. The basic body 10 corresponds to the basic body 10, already described, of the tool unit represented in FIG. 2 a.

The tool unit has at least one information element 118. It is also conceivable for the tool unit to have a plurality of information elements 118. The information element 118 comprises a material relief in the basic body 10. The information element 118 comprises a material opening 120 through the basic body 10. The material opening 120 extends through the entire thickness of the material of the basic body 10. The information element 118 constitutes at least one numeral. The information element 118 constitutes a total of three numerals. The information element 118 constitutes a sequence of numerals, i.e. a number. It is also conceivable, however, for the information element 118 to constitute at least one letter, a sequence of letters, i.e. a word, a symbol, or another configuration considered appropriate by persons skilled in the art. The information element 118 is provided to provide an operator of the tool unit with information relating to a grain size or another parameter of the tool unit. The information element 118 is constituted by a number, comprising three numerals, that denotes the grain size.

A plurality of material openings 120 are provided. A shape or contour of the material openings 120 constitutes the information element 118, i.e., for example, the number defining the grain size. In this exemplary embodiment, the information element 118 is constituted by the numeral sequence “180”. The shape of the material openings 120 corresponds to a contour of the information of the information element 118 that is to be represented. In this case, the shape of one of the material openings 120 constitutes, respectively, a part of a numeral. The material openings 120 are separated from each other by webs 136. The material openings 120 are realized as a bridge structure.

When the tool unit is in a mounted state on the hand-held power tool 14, and the hand-held power tool 14 is in an operating state, the information element 118 can serve as a suction element 122. The information element 118 is realized so as to be integral with a suction element 122 or a plurality of suction elements 122.

The tool unit is produced by means of a method that corresponds to the method already described. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A tool unit, comprising: at least one basic body, including: at least one fastening region configured, at least partially, to couple to a tool receiver of at least one hand-held power tool; and at least one working region configured, at least partially, to work at least one workpiece when in an operating state; and at least one information element, wherein the at least one information element includes, at least partially, a material relief in the at least one basic body.
 2. The tool unit according to claim 1, wherein the at least one information element includes, at least partially, at least one material opening through the at least one basic body.
 3. The tool unit according to claim 1, wherein the at least one information element is made in the at least one basic body, at least partially, by a laser cutting operation.
 4. The tool unit according to claim 1, wherein the at least one information element is made in the at least one basic body, at least partially, by a stamping operation.
 5. The tool unit according to claim 1, further comprising at least one suction element configured to be at least partially integral with the at least one information element.
 6. The tool unit according to claim 1, wherein the at least one information element includes at least one of at least one letter and at least one numeral.
 7. The tool unit according to claim 2, wherein: the at least one material opening includes at least two material openings, and a disposition of the at least two material openings constitutes the information element, at least partially.
 8. The tool unit according to claim 2, wherein the at least one information element is constituted, at least partially, by a shape of the at least one material opening.
 9. A method for producing a tool unit, comprising: forming at least one information element that, at least partially, comprises at least one material relief, in a basic body of the tool unit, wherein the basic body includes at least one fastening region configured, at least partially to couple to a tool receiver, and wherein the basic body includes at least one working region configured, at least partially, to work at least one workpiece when in an operating state.
 10. The method according to claim 9, wherein forming the at least one information element includes laser cutting.
 11. The method according to claim 9, wherein forming the at least one information element includes stamping.
 12. A system, comprising: at least one hand-held power tool; and at least one tool unit, including: at least one basic body, including: at least one fastening region configured, at least partially, to couple to a tool receiver of at least one hand-held power tool; and at least one working region configured, at least partially, to work at least one workpiece when in an operating state; and at least one information element, wherein the at least one information element includes, at least partially, a material relief in the basic body.
 13. The tool unit of claim 1, wherein the tool unit is an insert-tool unit. 